Chinese Dynasty Debate Dynasties- Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming

Resource for Chinese Dynasties- World History in Context Database

Day One-
As a group, discuss: What makes an empire great? What would the Sage Emperors say? What would Confucius say? What would HanFei say? What would Laozi say?

Begin preparation for debate: "What was the greatest Chinese Dynasty?"

-Get to know your dynasty

--What are its strengths? How will you make your case?

--What are its weaknesses? How will you defend them against criticism?

-- How will you use the sage Emperors and Chinese philosophies to support your dynasty?

Day 2

Continue preparation for debate: What was the greatest Chinese Dynasty?
-Compose an introduction (biography) and opening statement (persuasive speech about why yours is the best) for your dynasty.
-Remember to use the mythical first Emperors of China and the great Chinese philosophers and philosophies to support your case



Day 3

Continue preparation for debate: What was the greatest Chinese Dynasty?




-Choose three opposing dynasties to research for the debate

--What are their strengths and weaknesses? Where does your dynasty have an advantage?
--develop focused questions that you can use to challenge their greatness based on your research

-Review and revise your opening statements

Day 4
Continue preparation for debate: What was the greatest Chinese Dynasty?

-Choose three other opposing dynasties to research for the debate
--What are their strengths and weaknesses? Where does your dynasty have an advantage?
--develop focused questions that you can use to challenge their greatness based on your research
-Review and revise your opening statements

Day 5
Debate:
Dynasties take turns with introductions and opening statements
Open questioning and responding
5 minutes to prepare closing statements that address the content of the debate






Rubrics
Debate Introduction and Opening Statements
Oral
  • Organization
  • Development of ideas
  • Purpose
  • Audience awareness
  • Non-verbal skills (body language, visual aids, volume, pitch, tone, pronunciation, apparel, etc.)
-Clear purpose.
-Innovative development of specific examples and organizational structure clearly and effectively support the purpose.
-Mastery of language and communication strategies for a variety of audiences.
-Mastery of non-verbal skills.
-Clear purpose.
-Strong development of specific examples and effective organizational structure that support the purpose.
-Effective use of language and communication strategies appropriate to audience.
-Effective use of non-verbal skills.
-Identifiable purpose.
-Adequate development of specific examples and organizational structure that support the purpose.
-Adequate use of language and communication strategies appropriate to audience.
-Adequate use of non-verbal skills.
-Unclear purpose.
-Weak development of specific examples.
-Weak organizational structure.
-Inappropriate use of language and communication strategies for an audience.
-Weak use of non-verbal skills.
Poor understanding of mechanics, purpose, development, organization, audience, and non-verbal skills.


During the Debate: Questions
Evaluate and Draw Logical Conclusions
  • Evidence to draw conclusions
  • Ramifications of conclusions and alternatives
--Questions demonstrate a thorough and insightful synthesis of the evidence.
--Thoroughly evaluates reasonable alternatives and possible consequences.
--Questions demonstrate a thorough synthesis of the evidence.
--Evaluates reasonable alternatives and possible consequences.
--Questions demonstrate synthesis of the evidence.
--Evaluates some alternatives and consequences.
--Questions demonstrate limited synthesis of the evidence.
--Evaluates minimal understanding of consequences.
--Unable to show how available information was used to support questions.
--Unable to provide any possible consequences.


During the Debate: Responses
Explore and experiment
  • Brings a sense of courage to unfamiliar situations
  • Shows a willingness to explore new roles, ideas, and strategies
--Eagerly takes on new challenges
--Tries innovative approaches to tasks
--Takes on new challenges
--Tries varied approaches to tasks
--Takes on assigned challenges
--Occasionally varies approaches to tasks
--Hesitates to take on assigned challenges
--Rarely varies approaches to tasks
--Refuses to take on assigned challenges
--Does not vary approaches